Solenoid actuated can opener



July 19, 1955 R. M. SPENCER ErAL 2,713,199

SOLENOID ACTUATED CAN OPENER Filed July 9, 1954 Uhm; V23 l F l G- f @lm @W j I 'I Il! Hi ,l /a @wwf .lul im', l 24 l, 26 5 2.9/ 2@ I 25* l I vili' Y 4/ 3/"29` l 42 3 30 ,I 3 2; 22 /6'-l.

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Appiication .iuiy 9, 1954, Serial No. 442,282

Ciairns. (Ci. Sii-i) This invention relates to can openers and more par- I ticularly to an electrically operated solenoid actuated can opener.

insofar as we are aware, can openers as a general class require the use of two hands to be properly operated and, furthermore, require that two separate operations be performed to form a pouring opening and a vent hole. For these reasons the use of canned beverages is not looked upon with favor by those concerned with serving beverages to the public.

lt is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a can opener suitably constructed and arranged to enable one, with a single hand, to open cans and serve the contained beverage in a quick and efficient manner.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an electrically operated solenoid actuated can opener having a novel switch and reset mechanism by means of which the electric circuit through the solenoid is broken immediately upon completion of a can opening movement, thus permitting return of the can opener parts to their normal position and allowing removal of the opened can therefrom.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an electrically operated solenoid actuated can opener having a vertically reciprocal element provided with a Combined can opener and vent punch whereby a pouring opening and vent hole are simultaneously formed in a can.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an electrically operated solenoid actuated can opener formed with facility from a minimum number of parts and therefore, one that is very inexpensive and not liabie to get out of operating condition.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts,

Figure l is a side elevation of our improved can opener;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary cross f' section taken through the upper portion of the can opener having its solenoid housing removed; and,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the switch and reset mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings; we have shown our electrically operated solenoid actuated can opener, indicated in general by the numeral 1%, as comprising a supporting stand 11 having a horizontally disposed horizontal base 12 provided on its upper face with guideways 13 adapted to locate the can upon the base of the can opener and having inturned lips 13 cooperating with the annular bead C on the bottom of the can and thus preclude upward movement of the can.

Extending upwardly from the base 12 the stand 11 is provided with a vertically disposed standard 14 having at its upper end a horizontally extending shelf 15 which is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the base 12. The shelf 15 supports a removable solenoid housing 16 which is conveniently secured by a plurality of stub bolts 17 threaded through the lower edge of the housing and into the peripheral edge of the shelf 15. The dotted line 16 indicates a continuation of the solenoid housing 16 and provides a protective plate to prevent the operator from inserting his fingers between the top of thetcan and the can punch 29.

Supported upon the shalf 15 and anchored thereto we provide a solenoid 18 which consists of the conventional electric coil 19 wound about a brass or other nonmagnetic spool 20 rectangular in horizontal cross section. One end flange 2i of the spool is anchored to the shelf 15 by means of stub bolts 22. Slidable within the spool 2i? is a transversely rectangular iron core 23 which is preferably formed of laminated iron, although not necessarily so. At its lower end the core 23 is provided with opposed depending spaced arms 24 one at each side. At their lower ends the arms 24 are provided with inturned lips 25 and these lips are disposed within diametrically opposed recess 26 formed in a vertically reciprocal plunger rod 27 which is journaled for reciprocation in a sleeve bearing 28 having its axis disposed vertically z and its upper end threadedly engaged and secured in the shelf 15.

At its lower end the plunger rod 27 has a laterally extending punch head 29 which mechanically combines a pouring opening punch 39 and a vent hole punch 31 so that a can may be formed with a pouring opening and a vent hole simultaneously during one punching operation of the head 29. lt will be noted that the leading point of the pouring opening punch 30 is disposed lower than the point of the vent hole opener 31 and therefore the pouring opening is partially formed prior to the striking of the vent hole opener 31.

To maintain the punch head 29 in raised position and thereby facilitating placing the can C thereunder, we provide within the spool 2G an expansion spring 32 which has only sufficient tension to maintain the punch head 29, rod 27, and core 23 in raised position. Thus, when the solenoid 18 is energized the core 23 is forcibly lowered compressing spring 32 and the punch is caused to perforate the top of the can C.

Opening or breaking the electric circuit through the solenoid 1S permits the spring 32 to raise the punch head from the can and permit removal of the can from the opener 10.

Obviously, it is necessary to accurately control the circuit to the solenoid 18 and we, therefore, have provided a novel switch arrangement which functions to energize the solenoid 18 to punch the pouring opening and vent hole in the can and immediately breaks the circuit to release the solenoid and permit spring 32 to raise the punch 29 away from the can.

Inspection of Figures 2 and 3 will show that we have provided a normally open switch 33 of the push button type having an axially moveable push button 34 which when pushed inwardly of the switch 33 completes the circuit therethrough. Obviously, the switch 33 is provided with a pair of connectors to which the wires 46 are secured connecting the switch in series with the coil of the solenoid 1S, thus properly making and breaking connection therethrough for the purposes herein set forth.

lt will be noted that the switch 33 is located in such a position that the top edge of a can C, when forced inwardly to the position on the base 12 where it is disposed below the punch head 29, will push the button 34 and thereby establish the circuit through the switch 33.

To provide means for opening the circuit immediately upon completion of the punching movemenhwe provide arreset mechanism indicated in general by the numeral 35.` This reset mechanism 35 consists of a yieldably f mounted reset lever 36 which is loosely journaled on a pin 37 anchored in the standard 14 above the switch 33.V

The lever 36 is loosely mounted for vertical tilting movement in vertical planes, one parallel with the axis of upper end of the reset lever is formed with a projecting ear 40, the use of which will be subsequently described.

In operation, when a can C is manually placed upon the base and guided into proper location relative to the can punches 3i)V and 31 by the ways 13, its upper edge presses upon the reset lever 36 and thereby depresses push ybutton 34 establishing the electrical circuit through the solenoid 18 whereupon the magnetic energy draws the core 23 inwardly and causes the punchesy 30 and 31 to perforate the end of the can C.

It will be noted in Figures 3 and 4 that the punch head 29 carries a rearwardly extending boss yor lip 41 which is positioned to strike the cam 40 of the reset lever 36 and pivot the lever in its lateral vertical plane to the dotted position of Figure 3 wherein the reset button 34 is again permitted to move outwardly of the switch 33 breaking the connection through the solenoid 18. The spring 32 thereupon raises the mechanism withdrawing the punches from-the can C. TheV reset lever 36 is held by the can-C precluding movement of the face of the button 34'causing it to bear against the side of the button until such time as the can C is removed whereupon the spring 38 again draws the reset lever 36 4 movable to actuate said switch when struck .by a can manually placed to be opened by said punch; and means actuable simultaneously with the can opening movement of said punch for removing said reset mechanism from said switch, whereby the solenoid circuit is opened; saidV reset mechanism being maintained removed from said switch by said can until removal of the can from Ysaid opener.

back to its full line position of Figure 3, resetting Vthe switch mechanism and making the can punch ready for the reception of another can to be opened.

In Figure 2 it will be noted that we have provided a butler spring 42 encircling the plunger rod Z7 and adapted to be struck by the inturned lips 25 and thus eliminate unnecessary striking shock to the shelf 15. It will also y be noted that the butter spring 42 serves as a means for urging the initial upward movement of the punches 30 Y vand 31 out of the can C thus insuring that thepunches will not stick in the can.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: ,1. An electrically operated can Opener comprising a supporting stand having a base adapted to releasably K secure and locate a can to be opened, and upwardly carrying a bearing sleeve with its axis disposed vertically; a solenoid; a vertically'reciprocal plunger rod journaled in said bearing and operably associated to be reciprocated by said solenoid; a combination pouring opening-and vent punch carried by the plunger rod and adapted to open a can disposed upon said base; a nor-V mally open switch electrically interposed kin the circuit of said solenoid and carried by the stand; a yieldably mounted reset lever disposed to be struck by a can placedV upon said base and actuate said switch; ,and means actuable simultaneously with the punching movement of said plunger for removing said reset lever from Vsaid switch whereby the solenoid circuit is opened; said can, while disposed on said base precluding return movel Vment of said reset lever.

.disposed for movement within an electrical coil hav- 3. In an electrically operated can opener having a solenoid actuated reciprocal can punch; a normally open switch interposed in the electric circuit of said solenoid; a reset mechanism disposed relative to said'switch and movable to actuate said switch when struck by a can manually placed to be opened by said punch; saidrreset mechanism comprising a depending yieldable lever loosely journaled relative to said switch for movements adapted to actuate said switch and also other movements adaptedV to remove said lever from said switch; and said lever being disposed to be struck by a can manually placed to be opened by said punch and thereby actuating said switch; and means carried by said can punchV for striking said lever at the end of its ycan opening stroke for removing said lever frornsaid switch, whereby the solenoid circuit is opened; said lever being maintained at a position removed from said switch by said can until removal of the can from said opener.

4. In an electrically operated can opener havingV a solenoid actuated reciprocal can punch, a normally open push switch interposed in the electric circuit of said solenoid; said switch being disposed with its axis on a horizontal plane for actuation by pressure applied when a can to be opened is manually placed under said can punch; a loosely journaled depending reset lever disposed in overlying relation with Vthe actuating butstruck by acan manually placed to be opened by `said y punch whereby the switch is depressed and the sole-V noid actuated can punch is reciprocated; said punch having a boss adapted to-strike said lever andtilt it in the second named plane whereby Ythe switch is released and the circuit is opened; and means ,maintaining the lever removed from said switch until the opened can is removed from said opener.

5. An electrically operated can opener comprising a supporting stand having a baseV adapted to locate and releasably secure a can to be opened, and upwardlyy carrying a bearing sleeve with its axis disposed substantially vertically; a solenoid including a reciprocal core ing a circuit; a vertically Vreciprocal plunger rod journaled in said bearing and extending upwardly into said coil and mechanically connected to said core; an expansion spring disposed intermediate said core and said bearing whereby the plunger is yieldably supported in a raised position; a combination spout and vent punch carried by the plunger rod and adaptedto open a Vcan disposed upon said base; and a normally open switch electrically interposed in the circuit of said solenoid and having a reset mechanism constructed and arranged to close said switch when a can to be opened is manually placed upon said base, release said switch upon completion-ofV the can opening movement of said punch, and reset to actuate said switch upon removal of said can.

No references cited, 

